Possible role of TORCH agents in congenital malformations in Gorgan, northern Islamic Republic of Iran

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Abstract

This descriptive, cross-sectional study was carried out to explore the frequency of contamination with TORCH agents in neonates with congenital malformations in a referral centre in Gorgan city, Islamic Republic of Iran. Blood samples were taken from 64 neonates and their mothers over a 20-month period in 2003-04. Serologic tests showed that 4/64 infants born with congenital malformations [‎6%]‎ had positive IgM antibody titres for Toxoplasma gondii [‎2 cases]‎, rubella virus [‎1 case]‎ and cytomegalovirus [‎1 case]‎. IgM was positive in 9/63 mothers [‎14%]‎, also for T. gondii [‎3 cases]‎, rubella virus [‎3 cases]‎ and cytomegalovirus [‎3 cases]‎. No cases of herpes simplex virus type II or Treponema pallidum were found

The study was conducted to determine the family, social and economic factors associated with deaths of children aged under 5 years. A registry-based nested case-control study was conducted of the deaths of all children aged under 5 years in Kohgilooyeh and Boyer-Ahmad Province in the Islamic Republic of Iran. For each death, two controls were randomly selected among children of the same age, sex and place of residence [‎186 cases and 372 controls]‎. Congenital abnormality [‎37.6%]‎ and preterm birth [‎29.0%]‎ were the two most frequent causes of death ...